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Hop On, Hop Off

It was my first time in London and I was excited to see it's famous landmarks. It was also my first time to try the Big Bus tour. I've seen those double-decker buses in New York and Sydney, but I've never hopped on into one.

My friend Rey and I carefully studied the tour map a night before, choosing only five stops to hop off for our Facebook photo albums. The hotel concierge cheerfully told us that it was a beautiful sunny day to take the tour - no need for heavy jackets. And so merrily, like kids, we hurriedly went up the upper deck to get a better view and enjoy the Spring weather. Oh! It was a good thing Rey brought his wool jacket, coming from a tropical country, a 'beautiful sunny day' in London still felt like winter to him. Luckily, thanks to excess fat, I didn't feel as cold.

Traffic was particularly heavy in Oxford St., it already took us three hours before reaching our first chosen stop, the Trafalgar Square. Mid-afternoon and we were only half way through the tour, and so we cut the trip short from the London Tower, taking the much faster ferry back to Westminster. We made it to Buckingham Palace with the sun still out.

My favorite stop was Westminster Abbey, it's filled with so much history. A monument to noble men and women who made this kingdom a great nation.

Waiting for the Big Bus.

Giving you a little history of each stop, headsets are provided with eight languages to choose from.

Rey Lanada all bundled up for the cold.

Braving the cold.

Our first stop, the Trafalgar Square.

The Trafalgar Lion.

Our next stop, the House of Parliaments.

My favorite stop, the Westminster Abbey.

Tourists waiting for the Horseguards at White Hall.

St Paul's Cathedral

Nearing completion, the Shard.

The Tower Bridge

Famished, Rey buying a hotdog.

A good view of the Tower Bridge.

The gates of the Tower of London.

If you wish to cut the trip short, a free ferry ride takes you from the Tower Bridge back to Westminster.

The London Eye

The Queen Victoria Monument, Buckingham Palace.

The Mall

The gates of Buckingham Palace.

Buckingham Palace

Achilles

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Hi Kuya JC, it's the same bus tour we took in London last spring. It looks like it's still chilly in London this time of year and you guys had fun. I loved London and it's street fashion. Oxford street was ashopping haven for me. ;) -Annette

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